The air-conditioner literature for our Bambi's 11,000 BTU unit says it needs a 2500 W generator - period. I guess I have always questioned this - it runs great on a 15 AMP circuit from my garage while sharing the power with the fridge on AC and any other single thing I might run on AC in the trailer (TV/DVD, Vacuum cleaner, etc).

So.

We stopped in to check out a Honda EU2000 when returning home from a (hot) trip with Bambi in tow. They are on sale. Bottom line seems to be that the EU2000 runs the AC just fine. The generator grunts when kicking in but settles down almost immediately (within a couple of seconds) and runs smoothly thereafter. In-the-trailer voltage remains stable at 123 Volts. Eco-throttle seems to cause it some grief - it will cut out on overload when the compressor kicks in - but with the eco-throttle dis-engaged there really doesn't appear to be an issue (based on my non-educated logic).

My question - can I consider the EU2000 a serious choice? - or am I asking for problems?

If the unit states it needs 2500w generator and if the eu2000 is rated at 2000 watts (which I believe it is, but 2000 watts peak), the answer would be that it will work, but I would guess that the brownout the compressor initiates (which is the grunting you're hearing when it starts) at startup would eventually damage the compressor shortening it's life.

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Computers manufactured by companies such as IBM, Compaq and millions of others are by far the most popular with about 70 million machines in use worldwide. Macintosh fans note that cockroaches are far more numerous than humans and that numbers alone do not denote a higher life form. -NY Times 11/91

The Honda EU2000i is rated at 1600 watts continuous and 2000 watts peak. 1600 watts = 123 volts at 13 amps. So if your current draw is over 13 amps continuous, you are overtaxing the generator. You should NOT run the gen on Eco Throttle when you have a high current draw on startup. That drops the voltage, which ups the current, which burns up the motor windings.

Thanks for the advice  and thanks Janet for the links  youre right  there is a wealth of information available on this topic and I feel a little sheepish for not having looked it up before posting. I spent a large chunk of last evening reviewing much of what has already been discussed several times  and at length.

A quick summary of everything I read would be: . maybe yes, maybe no.

The technical evidence seems clear.

The 11,000 BTU AC needs a minimum 2500 watts for its start-up cycle  end of story. To use a 2,000 watt unit is to use it at your peril  you might get away with it  but might also suffer the pain of some longer term problems with the AC (Silvertwinkie: your advice is consistent with pretty much all of those who seem to know electricity).

But there is also some anecdotal evidence.

There are folks out there that have already taken the risk (thanks for your own experience Pick)  and at least from what I was able to read  I couldnt find anyone that actually had any perils to report.

So my decision appears self-evident: .. maybe yes, maybe no.

Damn.

Im going to have to fall back on other criteria:

My logic says that 2 EU2000s are just out of the question  its one or none - our home geography and travel habits mean that 80% of our camping does not involve sweltering summertime temperatures (this year being an exception) and that the 20% that does can be usually be worked around  in fact  an EU1000 with a fantastic fan is really the way to go.

Course there is that group of stem cells that keeps whispering:  just get the damn thing  take the risk on a single EU2000 . when its hot  its hot get it now!

Hmmm I have to admit  if we hadnt listened to those stem cells when shopping for our trailer two years ago wed be hauling a 17 foot Bigfoot now instead of a 19 foot Bambi .

Our next excursion is less than two weeks away  were already committed for 6 nights  there is no electricity available  and its one of the few times that we will not have an alternative. Forecast for the next couple of days at least is for more hot weather .

rangerjay--just courious what you mean by,"my logic says that 2 eu2000's are just out of the question". If it's because of finances I understand, but being the owner of 2 with a parallel hookup I can tell you it's a really nice setup. It allows you to run one for light loads, coffee pot , battery charger, fans,etc and the second one for ac, micro and heaver loads if and when you need then. You don't have to run both at the same time unless you need the power. There size and weight make transporting them easier plus fuel consumption is minimal.-----pieman

Yea, I see what you mean. I too am in the same boat and have been thinking about it for at least a year now.

One thing that could sway my decsion is what Pick did. Pick found a propane converstion kit for the EUs and to me that would make a BIG difference for me since then I could see hauling two 2000s since I wouldn't have to lug a lot of fuel as I already have lots of propane with me anyway. But I will caution you, the conversion, if done by yourself, isn't for the mechanically challenged.

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Computers manufactured by companies such as IBM, Compaq and millions of others are by far the most popular with about 70 million machines in use worldwide. Macintosh fans note that cockroaches are far more numerous than humans and that numbers alone do not denote a higher life form. -NY Times 11/91

PS- Let me qualify my remarks about hauling a lot of fuel as after I read my comments I know the Hondas are very fuel efficent.

I have a Suburban, so hauling fuel in the truck is out of the question. Also hauling it in the Safari is out of the question. Using a siphon type device to take it out of the tank of the burb is a neat work around, but where do I put the gas fumed hose, the Suburban or the Safari? That's one of the reasons I liked Picks propane kit. To me I can haul the EU(s) in the Suburban or the Safari, and no fumes or nasty gas smells, esp putting them into storage tubs...no worries about gas spillage, etc too.

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Computers manufactured by companies such as IBM, Compaq and millions of others are by far the most popular with about 70 million machines in use worldwide. Macintosh fans note that cockroaches are far more numerous than humans and that numbers alone do not denote a higher life form. -NY Times 11/91

BTW, looking at the site Pick links to, there is also a Yamaha gen that is has the ability to run on propane from the factory without mods. Not sure if they have the same par ability of the Hondas, but it might be worth looking at.....

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Computers manufactured by companies such as IBM, Compaq and millions of others are by far the most popular with about 70 million machines in use worldwide. Macintosh fans note that cockroaches are far more numerous than humans and that numbers alone do not denote a higher life form. -NY Times 11/91

When I say "2 EU2000 are just out of the question" I'm thinking of two things:

First, and most important, is our tow vehicle: the Pathfinder is a smaller tow vehicle. Although we are within it's capacities, and I am happy with how it performs, I remain very weight and space conscious - we carry what we need - but nothing more.

Second is cost: our critical need for an airconditioner is pretty nominal - we are almost always on a lake in a wooded setting - rarely out in the open, under the sun, without an opportunity to "have a dip" if we needed one. Public campgrounds in Northwestern Ontario do not often fill - when heat conditions becomes oppressive then there is almost always the alternative to find a park where you can say: "I'll have a campsite with electricity". For us it just doesn't make sense to spend that kind of money to have a second EU2000 "on standby" for the rare event that it is the only alternative. I suppose that some might call this cheap - but I'd prefer to say that "the need for a second unit isn't indicated by the cost/benefit analysis". Our extended trips have always been in the off-season - and summer-like heat conditions, at least so far, haven't been an issue.

From what I've read in the different threads on this topic, and what I experienced during our EU2000 "test drive", I think I would feel comfortable with a single unit - the risk seems marginal for the number of times we would be challenging it. But quite honestly I still haven't ruled out an EU1000 with a fantastik fan as a realistic choice.

When I ran my A/C on the EU2000i, I did it just to see if it would do it. I only did it once and for a half hour, on low fan, with the Univolt off. If I need to run the A/C in a boondocking or emegency hurricane situation, I'll bring out the big gun, a Generac 7500XL.

I use the Honda while boondocking, for keeping the fridge going, battery charged and watching TV.

rangerjay---one thing to concider when thinking of propane for fuel--you will reduce the output of you gen as propane has less BTU's , hence less horse power, 2nd is consumption, you get less running time on a gallon of propane than gasoline. If a 2000 will barely run an ac on gas it is unlikely it will do it at all on propane. a 30 lb bottle of propane will weigh nearly as much as a second 2000.----something to concider. Pieman

Hello Jay.. We have 2 Fantastic fans put in at the factory.. best thing we have done to the trailer.. can run them both for 8 hours and hardly drop the battery at all.. I would highly recommend having them.. Annie